Joining ECA

Why should you join ECA ?

A cost-effective way to stay up to speed on regulatory developments that could affect your business – before they are implemented.

Networking

Meet your peers on a regular basis and exchange on today’s threats and opportunities for the cocoa sector.

A strong and credible industry voice

We carry the weight of an industry to put forward your concerns to the EU authorities.

A protective shield

We defend your interests vis-à-vis the EU and other key stakeholders in the cocoa sector.

We ensure the EU authorities fully understand and take into account the challenges faced by the cocoa sector.

Development Policy: the sustainability of the supply chain

We interact with the authorities of cocoa producing countries to better understand their priorities.

We help the EU understand how all actors can join forces for lasting, impactful and positive change on the ground.

Consensus and Coalition Building

With so many business interests actively engaged in EU affairs in Brussels, it is difficult for companies to have their voice heard. Likewise, the EU authorities welcome the possibility to engage with credible, recognised trade associations. Therefore, we do the ground work to understand our members’ questions and needs, and seek alignment to present strong common positions to the EU institutions.

Moreover, the cocoa voice stands to be heard well if we join forces with other structures. Thus, over the years, we have built strong strategic alliances with other actors in the cocoa supply chain, e.g. Caobisco, the Federation for Cocoa Commerce (FCC), the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) – and beyond cocoa, with the Primary Food Processors’ Platform (PFP). In addition, ECA is actively engaged in forums such as the ICCO Consultative Board, and enjoys Observer Status in the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the FAO.

A bridge between the EU and cocoa producing countries

The EU is the largest importer of cocoa from the world’s top producing countries. We act as an intermediary between the EU and cocoa-producing countries when issues of key concern for the cocoa sector are under discussion at production or consumption level.

The ECA Toolbox

The ECA Grind Statistics

Published each quarter for close to 15 years: a key source of information for the industry.

The ECA Trade MasterTable

A one-stop shop to find out applicable tariffs and duties for cocoa and semi-finished products in cocoa producing and consuming countries.

The EU Regulatory Update

Find out at a glance, what regulatory developments have occurred over the last quarter in the areas of Food Safety, Trade, and Sustainable Development.

A scientific library

ECA has joined forces with Caobisco to develop a bespoke library of scientific data – fed into by our member companies on a confidential basis – to help substantiate industry positioning on food safety concerns.

A Research Fund

Together with partners, we have set up a Joint Research Fund for Industry-led research projects. Companies join the fund at a modest cost and can then collectively decide on which projects should be supported. This Research Fund is currently managed by ECA.

ECA Fact sheets and updates

ECA has produced a series of over 20 concise fact sheets on key topics in the areas of Food Safety, Trade and Development.